UCC students honoured for endeavours

OVER 100 UCC students were presented with scholarships at the University last night for achievements in their chosen sport.

In total, 21 clubs were recognised including Canoeing and show jumping for the first time.

Among the recipients were double All-Ireland hurling medal winner Michael Cahill who received the prestigious EMC Scholarship.

The success of the UCC Senior Rugby team in the All-Ireland League last season and the U21’s in the All Ireland Club championship sees nine rugby scholarships awarded, with nine ladies hockey awardees complementing their success in the Munster Senior League and All-Ireland League. International basketball, volleyball and hockey players were recognised in addition to International rowers, canoeists and sailors.

Promising rowers Justin Ryan and Peter Hanily won silver medals at the recent World U23 rowing championships and were justifiably awarded.

15 students also received Munster Council GAA Bursaries including Cork U21 footballers Paul Honohan and Mark Collins.

Cadbury Ireland are also continuing their sponsorship of aspiring U21 Gaelic Footballers and Barry O’Driscoll (Cork) and Paul Geaney (Kerry) are this year’s recipients.

Three scholarships were awarded in memory of Jonathan Herlihy who drowned tragically while attempting to save two others from drowning. Brothers Daniel and William Kearny and Eoin O’Sullivan were the awardees.

11 students were the recipients of scholarships for achievements in soccer including Michael McSweeney (winner of the inaugural Cork City FCScholarship) while Max Taafe and Eoin Kilcommons received Player Development awards.

The breakdown of sports is as follows: Athletics (4), Badminton (2), Basketball (7), Camogie (3), Canoeing (1), Gaelic Football (11), Ladies Football (1), Golf (4), Handball (1), Hockey (12), Hurling (13), Modern Pentathlon (1), Rowing (5), Rugby (9), Sailing (3), Showjumping (2), Soccer (11), Tennis (1), Volleyball (3).